Magic Rock have brewed this sour damson IPA in collaboration with Hawkshead Brewery and it’s really rather good, though it’s not half as damsony as I was expecting.
In fact you might be forgiven in thinking that the tart fruitiness is coming from the hops – T90 Denali and Mosaic, Cryo-Mosaic and Simcoe – working with the Brett yeast and yoghurt.
The beer pours a pinky orange and holds hardly any head, with a soft lemon and plum aroma, and taking a swig you find the malts are subtle and gentle, all honey and shortcake, while the lactose adds a creaminess to the body and a little vanilla richness to the flavour.
Those hops are all lime zing and lemon sherbet fizz, and the yeast brings a earthy fungal tartness.
And then, gently wafting about in the background, the damsons pop up with their pithy dry fleshiness.
Lovely and summery.

Source: Ales By Mail